Has your dog ever barked, seemingly for no reason at all? Or has your cat ever stopped and carefully smelled a spot that looked perfectly clean to you? Pets, like people, have senses that they use to learn about and to react to their world, but their senses can be stronger or weaker than people's. In this mammalian biology science fair project, you'll study your pet's sense of taste by conducting taste tests and watching how your pet acts to determine his or her favorite type, flavor, or brand…
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Are you in charge of feeding your family pet? How much food do you think your pet eats compared to other kinds of pets? After adjusting for your pet's body weight, you might be surprised how it will compare to other kinds of pets. What type of pet do you think will eat the most for its body weight?
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When you're chasing after your dog, do you ever stop and say, "Wait, I have to catch my breath!"? Do you think that there are times when your dog feels like that, too? Does your dog's respiration rate change when you two are playing active games together? Try this playful science project to find out!
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MamBio_p019

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Time Required

Short (2-5 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

To do this project you'll need to have access to a dog that you can play with.

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Be sure to work with an animal you are familiar with. If you work with an animal that doesn't live with you for this science project, make sure the owner is present the whole time so that the animal feels comfortable.

Do you love animals and want to help keep them healthy? Well, here's your chance to design and tailor a toy that will bring out your pet's most playful nature. In this science fair project, you'll evaluate the skills and activities of your pet and determine what kinds of toys most excite your pet and make him or her lively and curious. So call your furry or feathered friend, and let the frolicking begin!
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Zoo_p051

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

You will need to work with a pet that you are very familiar with.

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Adult supervision is required when testing enrichment toys. Pet safety must be considered at all times. All toys must be made from non-toxic materials. You should be familiar with the pet you are working with.

Planning on getting a new puppy soon? Why not use some of your play time with puppy to study growth rates and puppy development? You can easily chart a young puppy's weekly weight and growth over several months to compare how quickly body dimensions and bone lengths change. While this project may take some time, it's well worth the effort. You might be amazed at the dramatic growth of your "canine kid," and what other project combines science with as much fun, or a more adorable subject?
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Have you ever been to an animal show and seen a sea lion balance a ball on his nose, or a tiger jump through a hoop? Or maybe you've met dogs who can sit, fetch, shake, or beg on command. The range of tricks that you can teach animals is amazing, but how does animal training work, and how long does it take? Find out in this trick-and-treat filled science fair project!
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MamBio_p025

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

For this science fair project you will need a pet that you can train on a daily basis.

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Adult supervision is required while you are working with the pet. Be sure you are very familiar with the pet and that you give the pet breaks when he or she seems bored or frustrated.

Have you ever seen a tortoiseshell cat? "What kind of cat is that?" you might ask. A tortoiseshell cat has two different fur colors, black or brown and red or orange. The gene that gives rise to the red or orange fur color is on the X chromosome. And did you know that most tortoiseshell cats are female? That's because female cats have two X chromosomes, while males only have one, which allows the females to express two different color combinations! Try this science fair project to figure out…
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Have you ever wondered what goes on in your dog's mind? Even though humans have the benefit of language, trying to understand another person's thoughts can be hard enough sometimes. Your dog can't talk, so how can you find out what its brain is capable of? The obvious answer is to study its behavior. This project will show you some behavioral tests you can use to measure canine I.Q.
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MamBio_p012

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Time Required

Very Long (1+ months)

Prerequisites

To do this experiment you will need a good rapport with dogs, and access to a large number of dogs to test, with the help of their owners.

There are many different types, also called genres, of computer and video games, including racing, fighting, sports, adventure, and puzzle games. Do some genres of games appeal more to males and other genres more to females? Survey your classmates and find out in this science fair project!
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Everyone thinks their dog's the best, but in the case of smelling ability, all dogs possess super powers. In fact, a dog's nose can be over a 1,000 times more sensitive than a human's! In this project, learn about smell from a dog's unique perspective. There will be a whole lot of sniffing going on when you set up these fun experiments to find out what scents your dog and other canine friends find most interesting or appealing.
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